Animatic

I created  my animatic by using the images I drew for my storyboard, and used Premiere to put them together with the song. This let me see how my shots would time in my music video, and figure out how long I want each section to last.

Storyboard

This is a basic storyboard that I drew in order to get all of my shot ideas on paper, and organise the order in which I want my music video to flow. The images I have drawn will remind me of each concept I have for the shot and what I wish to show.

Prop Possibilities!

I found a website which hires out props for parties and events, and they would have been perfect for the theme of my music video, so I sent them an email to find out more! Unfortunately (as can be seen in the reply I received) after looking at the price list, I found that they were too expensive for my budget.

Mood Board

Mood Board

Characters, Costumes and Prop Ideas

My Two Possible Proposals

Lana del Rey – Video Games Music Video Proposal

Having thought long and hard about the sort of angle I wish to take for my A2 Music Video Coursework, I have decided to create a video for the song ‘Video Games’ by Lana del Rey. As her debut single, this song is the first impression that the artist gave to her audience, and therefore the song has boundless opportunities about how it can be represented- the artist does not yet have a reputation or well-recognised style. The audience will be open-minded as they do not know what to expect from the artist. However, I think my interpretation of the song through music video will be more appealing to the female market, of ages 17 – 35.

I plan to have a strong thematic and conceptual approach to my music video, in that I want it to have an Alice in Wonderland theme. I have chosen to depict the music video in this way, as the theme of Alice in Wonderland is very recognisable and therefore will be identified easily by audiences. I want to capture the fantasy-like qualities of the theme, and along with the sleepy, dulcet tones of the song, I think this will result in a dreamlike quality for my final finish. I will create this Wonderland theme through the location, props, costumes and actors I use. I am going to use my back garden as my location because the back of it is secluded and overgrown, and I think that by decorating this with fairy lights and lanterns it will have a mysterious and magical effect. I am going to set up a ‘tea party’, which is a distinguishable feature of the popular children’s book and film, I will use a long table, and cover it with a lacy tablecloth and decorate it with mismatched teacups and teapots in order to project the theme as vividly as possible. Around my table for many of my scenes I will have my actors. I am going to cast the most symbolic and memorable characters from the film; Alice, The Mad Hatter, Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee, The White Rabbit, and The Queen of Hearts. These characters will be represented subtly through the actors’ costumes, for example the Mad Hatter naturally wearing a top hat, bow tie, and unusual face paint. The White Rabbit will wear rabbit ears or a mask, white face paint, and a clock around his neck. Alice will be wearing a blue dress, a white apron, and will carry a white lace parasol, much like the character from the film. However, in many ways the film has darker connotations than the children’s book, particularly when directed by Tim Burton, and therefore I want each of my characters to be slightly edgy and creepy. This is why I want to juxtapose Alice’s innocent image by having her sport pale makeup with dark eye makeup and big, black false eyelashes. I also am going to portray Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee by having the same actor play both parts, and then in the editing process put them together by using multiple exposure.

I am also going to use green screen for small sections of my song, which I hope will enhance the fantasy atmosphere. I am going to have Laura, as ‘Alice’ singing the words of the song, in front of a background of a spinning doily, the spinning emulating the falling of her down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland. I also am going to have the Mad Hatter simply sitting on a chair in front of the green screen, staring directly into camera and beckoning, as a haunting invitation for the audience.

This approach is not a lyrical depiction of the song, but I have chosen it due to the tone and sound of the song itself; slightly moody yet enchanting. However, the song does capture the daydreaming and fantasy of the theme, as the singer speaks of how she wishes things to be with the person she loves.

During the editing process, I will use various different techniques in order to portray a dreamlike form; these will include reverse action, multiple exposure, manipulation of colours and effects like ghosting and old-fashioned style crackles.

Some problems that I may encounter are that I want the ‘tea party’ setting to look as effective and authentic as possible, and therefore I am going to have to collect a number of different props, which may be difficult and costly. For example, in an ideal world I would have a range of different chairs, including a large armchair for the head of the table, white roses, playing cards, a chess board, candle sticks, and a cupcake stand full of cupcakes. I’m sure I can attain the majority of these props from charity shops or from borrowing them.

Olly Murs – Accidental Music Video Proposal

After much deliberation over what sort of angle to take for my A2 coursework, I have decided to make a music video for the song Accidental by Olly Murs. As a popular male artist who rose from prime-time TV competition The X Factor, I understand that this will have a mass appeal to a large audience of both males and females. I will aim my music video at an age 15-30 bracket, as I want it to have a very relaxed, young and fun vibe to it that may be more appreciated by a younger audience.

I am planning on shooting my video at various locations, and one of the main concepts of it is that I want to use a mix of live images and cartoons collaborated together, like the effect seen in the video for Watch the Sun Come Up by Example (which you can find on my Inspirations page). One of the locations I am definitely going to use is the Urdang Academy studios in London. It has been used previously in music videos by the likes of Ellie Goulding, and is an impressive setting with high ceilings, polished floors and large studio spaces. I am going to use one of these studios to film parts of my music video, and thankfully this is quite accessible as my actor, Aaron attends this college and can book a studio for use. He can also dance, which is what I will have him doing in these scenes.

The narrative for my video is a direct reference to the lyrics of the song, where the artist, or in this case Aaron, vies for the affection of his love interest by setting up coincidences for her to discover, and blames them on fate so that she sees they are meant to be together. My video will follow Aaron on his day as he does things such as leaving notes for her to find, playing her favourite song loudly outside her house, fixing pink paper hearts to trees on the route she walks home and other typically ‘cute’ romantic gestures. During these parts of the video, he will be dressed with slightly ‘geeky’ quirks about him, such as large geek glasses, and perhaps a bow tie, casting him as a stereotypical high school ‘nice boy’ with a crush on a girl. I also want there to be a clear contrast with the parallel narrative, where Aaron will be simply dancing in the studio, and singing the words to the song. At this point he will be dressed fashionably, looking and acting with typical pop star confidence, as a juxtaposition to the nervous, nerdy character from before.

I will also be casting a girl, who will be the object of his affection. She will be shown simply going about her day as normal and discovering these things that have been left for her by Aaron. She will be dressed like a ‘normal’ teenager, looking pretty and like a suitable partner for Aaron.

During the editing process, I will transform sections of the live action into black and white drawing-style cartoons, for example a bus driving past in the background, or the artist himself walking along as a cartoon in a ‘live action world’.

Some problems that I may encounter are that I would like to shoot outside on a sunny day, and this could be difficult to rely on in Autumn/Winter in England, so I will have to be ready to shoot at any point just in case a suitable day comes along. Also, I will need heavy practise to get to grips with how to create the cartoons to a high-quality finish, and this could be time consuming so I will be familiarizing myself with After Effects and the exact technique I need before going out and shooting.

Location, Location, Location

Brighton Pier
I'd like to shoot on Brighton Beach as it's a very typically British location, and the song I have chosen is from a British artist, so this could be a strong theme. The pier is a fun, carefree location which perfectly suits the tone of the song, however this could work best if I shot on a clear, bright day, or if it was grey and rainy it may have a more dark and brooding effect.

Urdang Academy

Urdang Academy is a very successful and well known musical theatre college in central London. It has been used previously in music videos by the likes of Ellie Goulding, and is an impressive setting with high ceilings, polished floors and large studio spaces.

Kensington Gardens

I have chosen Kensington Gardens as one of my  possible locations as it is a beautiful space, particularly the Italian Fountains, and will look good as a backdrop to the action in my video. It is also relatively easy to get to on the tube, and a place I know fairly well. Like Brighton, it is also a well-known British spot, and also as a Central London location can be considered quite cosmopolitan and 'buzzing'.

Lyrics: Video Games - Lana Del Rey

Swinging in the back yard
Pull up in your fast car
Whistling my name

Open up a beer and
Say get over here
And play your video game

In your favorite sun dress
Watching me get undressed
Take that body down town, honey

I say you the bestest
Lean in for a big kiss
Put his favorite purfume on,
Go Play your video games

It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew.
They say that the world was built for two.
On our way with living
If somebody is loving you
Baby nowt will do

Singing in the old bar
Swinging with the old stars
Living for the fame
Kissing in the blue dark
Playing pool and wild darts
Video games
He holds me in his big arms
He's drunk and I am seeing stars
This is all I think of
Watching all our friends fall
Leaning out of old cars
This is my idea of fun
Playing video games

It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew.
They say that the world was built for two.
On our way with living
If somebody is loving you
Baby now you do

(Now you do)

It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth wit' you
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew.
They say that the world was built for two.
On our way with living
If somebody is loving you
Maybe now you do

Maybe now you do

(Now you do)

Required Equipment

Brief

1. A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video, together with two of the following three options:

a website homepage for the band;

a cover for its release as part of a digipak (CD/DVD package);

a magazine advertisement for the digipak (CD/DVD package).

I have chosen the option of creating a music video and digipak because I am familiar with these types of products, as I enjoy listening to music and am interested in the industry. I think having a firm grasp on the conventions of music videos will benefit me, as I will be able to push the boundaries to create something original and professional. I also think that after creating a music magazine for my AS coursework, I have familiarized myself with the way different musical genres and artists are represented in the industry, and this will help me create a strong image and representation within my products.

Resource Audit.

Resource Audit 22/06/11

This is my resource audit, I have taken the initial idea that I have and thought of locations and costumes that are easily accessible to me. I have also included three music videos that I will use in my similar product research, as they all use similar conventions to the idea that I want to create.